The$importance$of$research$culture$ for$the

The importance of research culture for the student experience at

regional campuses

Professor Gerry Quinn Head of Warrnambool Campus

Deakin University

Deakin University •  Campuses (5): Melbourne, Geelong (2),

Warrnambool, Werribee •  FaculGes (4): Arts & EducaGon; Business &

Law; Health; Science, Engineering & Built Environment

•  34,198 on campus and 13,200 off campus undergrad students

•  31% of students enrolled at Deakin study at the regional campuses in Geelong and Warrnambool

•  22% of domesGc students enrolled at Deakin are from regional or remote areas

•  13% of students come from low socio-‐economic status backgrounds

Deakin’s core commitments •  Equity and access for individuals and

groups who might not otherwise enjoy the benefits that flow from parGcipaGon in higher educaGon

•  ConGnuing educaGon and life-‐long learning •  Contemporary and flexible teaching

programs •  An internaGonal outlook •  Rural and regional engagement •  Cu0ng-‐edge research that makes a

difference

Warrnambool •  Great South Coast populaGon 126,000 •  Agricultural producGon $2 billion per annum •  Manufacturing producGon $4 billion per

annum –  approx 25% dairy

•  Region produces 35% of Victoria’s milk, beef and lamb from 18% of land area –  reliable rainfall

•  Warrnambool city populaGon 33,000 •  Strong educaGon, health and services sectors

Deakin Warrnambool •  Sherwood Park campus

–  All faculGes represented –  Approx 1100 on-‐campus students –  Strong research in marine and aquaculture

science, educaGon, accounGng etc.

•  SW Healthcare –  Deakin medical school 3rd and 4th year

internships –  Approx 30 students each intake

•  Warrnambool City Centre –  Corporate and community focus

Deakin Warrnambool research •  All FaculGes acGve in research

•  Science –  Marine and freshwater science –  Fisheries and aquaculture –  SpaGal data processing and analysis

•  Business –  AccounGng –  Management and markeGng –  Environmental economics –  Modelling

Deakin Warrnambool research

•  Health –  PopulaGon health (e.g. diabetes) in regional areas –  Links to UDRH and SW Healthcare

•  Arts and EducaGon –  Governance and sustainability –  Regional educaGonal adainment and success –  Teacher educaGon

Research challenges •  AdracGng high profile researchers

–  ExisGng research culture and infrastructure important

•  Geographic isolaGon –  High quality digital communicaGons (e.g. cross-‐

campus seminars) –  Support for visiGng scienGsts to regional

campuses

•  CompeGGon for funding –  Industry and local government partnerships

criGcal –  Internal support for seminar speakers,

conferences etc.

•  Ministers Hockey and Pyne!

h7p://www.whatdegreewhichuniversity.com/States/VIC/Deakin.aspx

Research advantages •  Regional focus

–  Most governments provide targeted regionally-‐specific funding

–  Strong links with local industry partners

•  Natural environment –  Regional campus locaGons ohen beder suited for

some types of research •  AquaGc science at Deakin’s coastal campus •  Small-‐business accounGng in regional city

•  Cross-‐disciplinary research –  Silos between disciplines more permeable at

smaller campuses

•  Linking research programs directly with teaching –  Involving students directly in research projects –  Encourages Honours and HDR enrolments

Marine science at Warrnambool •  Long history of aquaGc science research at

Warrnambool InsGtute of Advanced EducaGon and then Deakin Warrnambool –  Research-‐acGve staff at WIAE –  PhD students –  Focus on local issues (e.g. catchment and coastal

management, aquaculture, adjacent Hopkins estuary)

•  AquaGc science and fisheries and aquaculture degrees since mid 1990s –  Marine biology degree introduced in 2005

•  Significant contribuGon to ERA Round 1 (2010) –  4 (above world standard) in fisheries (FoR 0704)

Marine science at Warrnambool

High profile researchers •  Myth that high-‐profile researchers won’t

move to smaller, regional campuses –  Need to sell quality of infrastructure and staff as

well as lifestyle –  Confidence in sustainability of campus criGcal –  OpportuniGes for partners

•  Prof Graeme Hays –  Recruited from UK in 2013 as Chair in Marine

Science –  High profile (H-‐index 45) –  Wanted smaller campus/city (loves fishing!)

•  Assoc Prof Giovanni Turchini –  Recruited from Italy as industry-‐funded post-‐doc in

2003, aher visiGng in 2001 –  MulGple ARC success, now Assoc Head of School

Research and the student experience

Student experience and research •  Students assisGng with research projects •  Research project units •  Work-‐integrated learning •  Honours programs

–  Availability of course-‐work across campuses

•  Higher degree programs –  Availability of suitably qualified staff and scholarships

Marine habitat mapping •  Mapping of local marine

environments using research vessel and mulGbeam sonar

•  Partners include local government and Parks Victoria

•  Numerous undergraduate student volunteers (all year levels) –  Direct pracGcal experience in marine

research interacGng with researchers and partners

•  Numerous 3rd year project students, six Honours students, two PhD students

hdp://www.pozible.com/voyagesofdiscovery

Biodiversity of water storages •  Partnership with local water authority

(Wannon Water), catchment management authority (Glenelg-‐Hopkins) and consultants (Austral Research and ConsulGng)

•  Three completed 3rd year projects –  Two students now doing Honours

•  Two completed Honours projects –  Both students now doing PhDs

•  All students presented mulGple Gmes to industry

•  Two manuscripts in preparaGon –  Industry partners and students (incl.

undergrads) as co-‐authors

Cross-‐disciplinary •  Smaller, regional, campuses should be

much beder at cross and inter-‐disciplinary research

•  Two key (opportunisGc) strategies foster cross-‐disciplinarity at Warrnambool –  Nearly all academic staff from four faculGes

in the same building –  Only one place on campus to get coffee!

•  But faculty and discipline silos occur at all universiGes –  CompeGGon for taught load (EFTSL)

•  Undergraduate (incl. Hons) research projects can increase cross-‐disciplinary collaboraGon

Cross -‐disciplinary •  Economic benefits of

recreaGonal fishing –  Offshore tuna and other coastal

species

•  Three Honours projects co-‐supervised by FaculGes of Science and Business & Law –  One published arGcle (Economic

Papers)

•  Research outcomes now incorporated into undergraduate units in both faculGes

Work integrated learning •  Available through most Deakin

courses for credit –  Some paid placements, volunteer

internships more common –  Ohen lead to on-‐going employment

•  Regional campuses can capitalise on strong local industry/government links to find placements/internships

•  AssisGng researchers (including HDR students) can be valid internships –  Business confidence evaluaGon –  Aquaculture nutriGon and wastewater

treatment –  Energy and water sustainability for local

tourist parks

Benefits of student research projects

•  Enhance employability though research (problem solving) skills and links to potenGal employers in industry and government partners

•  Improve “marketability” of courses •  Provide flexibility in course structures and

Gmetabling •  Increase retenGon into Honours and

higher degrees by research •  Provide students with memorable

experiences from their degree

Higher degree students •  Important influences on research culture at

smaller campuses •  Significant contribuGons to teaching

–  UniversiGes rely on HDR students for sessional teaching

•  OpportuniGes for undergraduate student experiences –  AssisGng in laboratories and on field trips

•  Exemplify research career pathways for undergraduates

•  HDR students increasingly difficult to get –  Availability of HDR scholarships is main constraint –  HDR fees recently introduced

•  Industry support criGcal

Partnerships •  Regional campuses have advantage of strong

local industry and government links –  Ohen based on personal and community connecGons –  Focused on issues and projects of local importance

•  Industry partnerships criGcal –  May require iniGal “pro-‐bono” research/advice to

develop relaGonships and get student support in return

–  Even small amounts of funding and/or in-‐kind support can have significant outcomes for student-‐based research

•  Local environmental consulGng company –  Strong partnership with university, including access to

space and experGse –  Provides WIL placements –  Co-‐supervision of 3rd year and Honours projects

Summary •  OpportuniGes for undergraduate students to assist with research projects

and do research projects for credit (3rd year, Honours) –  Encourage retenGon into higher degrees by research

•  Mutually beneficial partnerships with industry criGcal –  Benefits to university not just large grants –  Student research opportuniGes and work-‐integrated learning

•  Cross-‐disciplinary student research can break down discipline and faculty silos –  Inter-‐disciplinary research and teaching should be key for smaller campuses

•  Strong research culture on campus, combined with undergraduate research projects, allows beder integraGon of research methods and outcomes into teaching programs

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The$importance$of$research$culture$ for$the